Button-making machine.



H. MII LLER. BUTTON MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1912.

1,074,641. I Patented Oct. 7, 1913'.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 120., WASHINGTON. n. c.

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BUTTON MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1912.

1,074,641. Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES Parana caries.

HERMAN MNLLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BUTTON-MAKING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN MtiLLER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Button-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for making but-tons in which the button blank is provided with an opening for the insertion of a pin which is bent to form an eyelet or loop to serve as the securing means, and it is the object of the invention to provide a machine of this character which is cheap and simple in construction, eflicient in operation, and in which all of the operations take place successively in proper timed sequence by the actuation of a single lever or treadle. In making buttons of this character heretofore it has been absolutely necessary to provide pins of uniform length in order to have the machine work efliciently and properly form an eyelet or loop, and it is a further object of the invention to provide cutter mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point, said mechanism being adjustable to cut the pins different lengths and thereby permit the forming of different sizes of eyelets or loops irrespec' tive of the original'length of the pins.

Further objects of the invention relate to the die to form the eyelet or loop having adjustable actuating means to form loops of different sizes, and to mechanism to bend the pin andreturn the same to initial position previous to the forming of the eyelet.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved button making machine, and a table, partly broken away, upon which it is supported. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation with the pin-bending mechanism removed. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the support for the button blank and inserted pin. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of t 1e support for the button blank with inserted pin, said figure also illustrating the mechanism to maintain the button blank upon the support, and a portion of the cutter mechanism for the pins. Fig. 6 is a sectional view to illustrate the manner of bending the pin previous to forming it into Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 11, 1912.

Patented 0a. 7,1913.

Serial N0. 708,855.

an eyelet. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the button blank support to illustrate the action of the forming die upon the pin and showing the latter formed into an eyelet; and also showing a portion of the button ejecting mechanism. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the carrier for the cutter mechaism to show the manner of adjustably supporting it. Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view to illustrate the means to adjustably support one of the members of the forming-die actuating toggle; and Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the button ejecting lever to illustrate the manner of actuating the same.

Similar characters of reference designate like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings 1 have shown the operative parts carried by a framework, (designated in a general way by F,) which is supported upon a suitable table or bench, as B. A treadle or lever 9 is pivotally supported by the frame work, as at 9, all of the operative parts of the machine being connected to said lever and successively actuated in proper timed sequence thereby.

A button blank 10 with a headed pin 11 is carried on a support 12 projecting laterally from an auxiliary frame 13, said support having a slotted portion in which the pin engages. This support. is preferably made separate from the auxiliary frame, to be removably carried thereby, so that should it become broken it may be renewed without the necessity of renewing the auxiliary frame. The face ofv the support is constructeol to constitute one member of a forming die, to be hereinafter described. The button blank is maintained upon its support by a vertically reciprocable plunger 14 normally maintained in a position away from the support by a spring 15 confined between a washer on the upper end of the plunger and the framework. To reciprocate the plunger to cause it to engage with the pin head and thereby maintain the but ton blank in the support, I provide a slide 16 to engage in a transverse slot in the side of the plunger, the lower forward edge having a cam or beveled portion lz'. ()ne arm of a pivoted lever 18 has a pin-and-slot connection, as at 19, with the slide and the other arm is connected to a pitman or rod 20 slidably supported in a laterally projecting lug 21 swiveled to the lever 9, a spring 22 on the rod between the treadle and a nut on the end of the rod serving to throw the slide 16 forward and thereby the plunger downward as the treadle lever is rocked and also permitting further free movement of the latter. It will thus be seen that during the initial movement of the treadle lever the plunger 14 will be caused to engage with the pin head and maintain the button blank upon its support, sincethe slide 16 will be maintained in position in the plunger slot by the treadle through the connection of the lever 18 and pin-and-slot connection 19 of said slide with the treadle.

In order that the eyelet may be properly formedand of uniform size it is essential to have the pin of uniform length, and for this purpose I provide adjustable cutter mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point, comprising a pair of opposed cutters 23, 24 mounted on a carrier 25 connected to the auxiliary frame by a screw engaging in a slot in the carrier, whereby it is adjustable toward and away from the button-blank support. The cutter 24 is stationary but is ad justable to compensate for wear and grind ing. To adjust said cutter the end abuts against the underside of the hcad'of a set screw 26. The other cutter 23 is movable relative to the cutter 24 and is formed on the end of one arm of a lever pivotally mounted on the carrier, the other arm of the lever being connected to the treadle lever 9 by an adjustable rod 27 to vary the movement of the cutter.

To facilitate the forming of the pin into a loop or eyelet, the pin is first bent or crimped. This is accomplished by abendingdie 28 carried at the end of a slide 29 to have movement transversely to the movement of the plunger 14. The female member of the die consists of a circular recess formed in the bottom of the button blank support, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The slide is actuated by a lever 30 one arm of which engages in a slot in the slide and the other end is connected to one member of a toggle 31, which may be adjustable to vary the throw of the slide and die, the other member of the toggle 32 being slidably mounted in a boss 33 projecting up from the framework. The joint of the toggle is connected through a link 32 to the treadle lever 9. To look the toggle member 32 against longitudinal movement and thereby permit the movement of the slide to bend the pin, the toggle member 32 is provided with a transverse slot in which engages one end of a lever 34 pivotally mounted on the framework. To release the toggle member 32 and permit the return of the die 28 to initial position previous to the forming of the bent pin into an eyelet, thelever 34 is provided with a cam portion 35 adapted to be engaged by a pin 36 projecting laterally from the treadle lever 9 as the treadle is moved backward. This pin rides over the cam portion 35 rocking the lever 34 on its pivot and throwing it out of engagement with the slot in the toggle member 32, a spring 37 confined betweenthe headof the slide 29 and its support returning the slide and die to initial position.

To form the bent pin into a loop or eyelet I provide a die 38 slidably mounted in the auxiliary frame to havejmovement toward and away from the button-blank support. This die is actuated by the treadle lever 9 through a rod 39 engaging in an opening-in said lever and connected at one end to the joint of a toggle, one member of which, as 40, is connected to the die and the other member, as 41, to a block 42 having a fixed position. It will be noted that the lever 9 V V operates between a pairof abutments 43, 44- on the rod 39 permitting free movement of the lever 9 and thereby the actuation of the plunger and the pin bending mechanism previous to the actuation of the forming die. To vary the movement of the die1and-thereby permit the formation of difierent sized loops the fixed block 42 is. adjustable, the lower end resting beneath the head of a set screw 45, screw threaded into the auxiliary frame 13, and locked in its adjusted position by a set screw 42". To prevent the die 38 from moving too far away from the buttonblank support, I provide an abutment, in the present instance in the form ofa set screw 46 the end of which is adapted to engage with the joint of the toggle.

To eject the finished button, Ip'rovide a pivoted lever 47 having a laterally project ing portion to engage at one sideof the button blank, a spring 48 normally maintain ing the lever in position away from the blank. This ejected lever 47 is actuated by an arm 49 fixed to the lever 18 to project toward the lever 4:7,the' forward end of said arm being bent to incline from the top to the bottom edge, as clearly shown at 50Figs. 1

and 10, engaging with a nib projecting back from a portion 51 formed on the lever 57. As the treadle is actuated and the plunger caused to engage with the pin head, this inclined portion of the arm rides idly down one side of the nib and when the slide 16 is released from the slot in the plunger on'the return movement of the treadle the inclined portion of the arm will pass up and engage with the opposite side of the nib, forcing the lever 17 toward the button, as clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10, the pro jeeting portion of the lever'engaging with and ejecting the finished button, andasthe inclined portion passes out of engagement with the nib the spring 48 will return the lever to initial position. V

The operation of myimproved machine is substantially as follows: The button blank with an inserted pin is placed upon iso the seat 12 when thetreadle lever 9 is actuated. During the initial movement of the lever 9, the wedge or cam slide 16 is thrown forward through its lever 18 and link 20 connection with the treadle, the cam edge 17 forcing the plunger 14 down upon the pin head maintaining the button blank upon its seat. The further movement of the lever 9 is permitted through the spring and rod connection 20, 22 with the lever. Upon the further movement of the lever 9 the cutter 23 is moved forward to cooperate with the cutter 2a severing the pin the de sired length. Upon the further actuation of the lever 9 the bending die 28 is moved forward bending the pin. After the pin ias been bent the movement of the t-readle lever is so timed that the projection 36 will engage with the cam portion 35 of the lever 34 throwing the latter out of engagement with the slot in the toggle member 32, when the die 28 is returned to initial position by the spring 37. During this movement of the lever it will be notedthat it has had a free movement on the forming-die actuating rod 39 and is now in position to engage with the abutment 43, and upon the further actuation thereof it will move the forming die 38 toward its companion die member formed in the bottom of the button-blank support forming the pin into a loop or eyelet, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 It will be noted that during the actuation of the bending die 28, the cutter member 23 continues to move forward under the cutter member 24, and as the forming die 38 begins to ascend, the said cutter member 23 will be out of the path of said die and will not be returned to initial position until after the forming and bending dies hav been returned to initial positions. Pressure is now released upon the treadle lever 9 when it is returned to initial position by the spring 22 and during such return movement the cam portion of the arm 49 will engage with the nib on the ejector-lever L7 forcing it forward to engage with and eject the finished button simultaneously with the return of the plunger 14 to initial position by the spring 15.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine of the class specified, the

combination of a support for the button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein; means to engage with the head of the pin to maintain the pin in the button and the button in position on the support; means to sever the pin at a predetermined point; means to form the pin into. an eyelet; and a lever to actuate all of said means in sequence. 7

2. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a support for the button blank and a pin inserted in an opening therein; means to maintain the pin and button in position on the support; means to sever the pin at a predetermined point; means to bend the pin; means to form the bent pin into an eyelet; and a lever to actuate all of said means in sequence.

3. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a support for the but-ton blank and a pin inserted in an opening therein; means to maintain the pin and button in position on the support; means to sever the pin at a predetermined point; means to bend the pin; means to form the bent pin into an eyelet; a lever to actuate all of said means in sequence; and means to eject the finished button from its support.

4. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a support for the button blank and a pin inserted in an opening therein; means to maintain the pin and button on the support; means to sever the pin at a predetermined point; means to bend the pin; means to return said pin bending means to initial position after the pin has been bent; means to form the pin into an eyelet after the pin-bending means has been returned to initial posit-ion; means to eject the button from its support; and a lever to actuate all of said means in sequence.

5. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein; a plunger to engage with the head of the pin and maintain the button blank upon its support; a cutter to sever the pin at a predetermined point; means to bend the pin to form an eyelet; and a lever to actuate all of said means in sequence.

6. in a machine of the class specified, the combination of a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein; a plunger; mechanism to cause the plunger to engage, and maintain it in engagement, with the head of the pin to maintain the button blank on its support; cutting mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point; mechanism to form the pin into an eyelet; and a treadle to operate all of said mechanism in sequence.

7. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an openingtherein; a reciprocable plunger having a transverse slot in one side thereof; a reciprocable cam slide engaging in the plunger slot'to cause the plunger to engage, and maintain it in engagement, with the head of the pin; cutting mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point; mechanism to form the pin into an eyelet; and a treadle to actuate all of said mechanism in sequence.

8. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein; a plunger to engage with the pin head and maintain the button blank on the support; a pair of cutting members one of which is movable relative to the other to sever the pin at a predetermined point; mechanism to form the pin into an eyelet; and a treadle to actuate all of said mechanism in sequence.

9. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein; a plunger to engage with the pin head and maintain the button blank on the support; adjustable cutting mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point; mechanism to form the pin into an eyelet; and a treadle to actuate all of said mechanism in sequence.

10.- In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein; a plunger to engage with the pin head and maintain the button blank on the support; adjustable cutting mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point, comprising an adjustable stationary cutting member,- and a cutting member movable relatively to the stationary member;- mechanism to form the pin into an eyelet; and treadle to operate all of said mechanism in sequence.

11. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a support for the button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein; a plunger to engage with the head of the pin and maintain the button blank on its support; adjustable cutter mechanism to sever the pin at predetermined points; mechanism to bend the pin; mechanism to form the bent pin into an eyelet, said eyelet forming mechanism being adjustable to form different sized eyelets; and a treadle lever to actuate all of said mechanism in sequence.

' 12. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a treadle lever; a support for a button blank and a headed pininserted in an opening therein; a vertically reciprocable plunger actuated by the lever to engage with the head of the pin and maintain the button blank on its support; a pair of cutters one of which is connected to and actuated by the lever relatively to the other cutter; mechanism connected to and actuated by the lever to bend the pin; mechanism to return the pin-bending mechanism to initial position after the pin has been bent; and mechanism connected to and actuated by the lever to form the bent pin into an eyelet; all of said mechanism being adapted to be actuated in sequence by the treadle lever.

13. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a pivotally supported treadle lever; a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein,

a vertically reciprocable' plunger to engage with the head of the pin and maintain the button blank on the support, said plunger having a transverse slot in one side thereof; means to actuate the plunger and maintain it in engagement With the pin head, comprising a slide having a cam edge engaging in the plunger slot and connected to the lever; cutter mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point; and mechanism to form the pin into an eyelet; all of said mechanism being adapted to be actuated by the treadle lever in sequence.

14.- In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a-treadle lever; a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein; a reciprocable plunger having a slot in one side to engage with the head of the pin and maintain the button-blank on the support; means to actuate said plunger and maintain it in engagement with the pin head, comprising a slidably supported wedge engaging in the plunger slot, a lever one arm of which is pivotally connected to the Wedge, a link pivot-ally connected to the other arm of the lever and passing through an opening in the treadle lever, and a coiled spring confined between said treadle lever and the free end of the link; cutter mechanism to sever the pin at a predeterminedpoint; andmechanism to form the pin into an eyelet; all of said mechanism being adapted to be actu ated in sequence by' the treadle lever.

15. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a pivotally supported treadle lever; a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein; a recipro'cable plunger actuated by the treadle lever to engage with the pin head and maintain the button on the support; cutter mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point, comprising an adjustably supported cutter member, a lever having a cutter formed upon one arm thereof movable relative to the first mentioned cutter member, and a link pivotally C011,

nected to the other'arm of the lever and to the treadle lever; and mechanism actuated by the treadle lever to form the pin into an eyelet; all of said mechanism being adapted to be actuated in sequence by the treadle lever.

16. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a pivotally supported treadle lever; a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein; a reciprocable plunger actuated by the treadle lever to engage with the pin head and maintain the button on the'support; cutter mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point, comprising an adjustably supported stationary cutter member, a lever having a cutter formed upon one arm thereof movable relative to the statlonferent points; and mechanism actuated by the treadle lever to form the pin into an eyelet; all of said mechanism being adapted to be actuated in sequence by the treadle lever.

17. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a pivotally supported treadle lever; a support for a button blank anda headed pin inserted in an opening therein; a reciprocable plunge;- actuated by the treadle lever to engage with the head of the pin and maintain the button blank on the support; cutter mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point; mechanism to bend the pin, comprising a bending die actuated by the treadle lever transversely to the movement of the plunger; and mechanism to form the bent pin intoan eyelet; all of said mechanism being adapted to be actu ated in sequence by the lever.

18. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a pivotally supported treadle lever; a support for a button blank and a. headed pin inserted in an opening therein; a reciprocable plunger actuated by the lever to engage with the pin head and maintain the button blank on the support; cutter mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point; mechanism to bend the pin, comprising a die carried by a slide mov able transversely to the movement of the plunger, a lever one arm of which is connected to the die slide, and a toggle connected to the other arm of the lever and also connected to the treadle lever; and mechanism to form the bentpin into an eyelet; all of said mechanism being operable in se quence by the treadle lever.

19. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a pivotally supported treadle lever; a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein; a reciprocable plunger actuated by the lever to engage with the pin head and maintain the button blank on the support; cutter mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point; and mechanism to bend the pin, comprising a bending die carried by a slide movable transversely to the movement of the plunger, a lever one arm of which is connected to the die slide, a toggle connected to the other arm of the lever and to the treadle lever, one arm of the toggle being slidably supported; mechanism to return the pin-bending mechanism to initial position after the pin has been bent; and mechanism to form the bent pin into an eyelet; all of said mechanism being operable in sequence by the treadle lever. V

20. In a machine of the class specified, the

a combination of a pivotally supported treadle lever; a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein; a reciprocableplunger actuated by the lever to engage with the pin head and maintain the button blank on the support; cutter mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point; and mechanism to bend the pin, comprising a bending die carried by a slide movable transversely to the movement of the plunger, a lever one arm of which is connected to the die slide, a toggle connected to the other arm of the lever and to the slidably-supported; and mechanism to return the pin-bending mechanism to initial position after the pin has been bent, comprising a cam lever adapted to engage in a slot of the slidable toggle member, a pin projecting laterally from the treadle lever to engage with the cam portion of the cam lever to throw it out of engagement with the toggle slot, and a coil spring on the die slide confined between the end of the slide and its support; and mechanism to form the bent pin into an eyelet; all of said mecha nism adapted to be actuated in sequence by the treadle lever.

21. In a machine of the class specified, the

combination of a pivotally supported treadle a lever; a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein, said support constituting one member of a die; a reciproca-ble plunger actuated bythe lever to engage with the pin head and maintain the button blank on the support; cutter mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point; mechanism to bend the pin; means to return the pin bending mechanism to initial position after the pin has been bent; a slidably supported die member con nected to and actuated by the treadle lever to form the bent pin into an eyelet; all of said mechanism being adapted to be actuated in sequence by the treadle lever.

22. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a pivotally supported treadle lever; a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein, said support constituting one member of a die; a reciprocable plunger actuated by the lever to engage with the pin head and maintain the button blank on the support; cutter mechanism to sever the pin at a predetermined point; mechanism to bend the pin; means to return said pin bending mechanism to initial position after the pin has been bent; a slidably sup-ported die member to form the bent pin into an eyelet; and means to connect and actuate said die member from the treadle lever, comprisin a link slidably engaging in an opening in the treadle lever, the other end of which is connected to a nected to the die; all of said mechanism being adapted to be actuated by the treadle in sequence.

23. In a machine of the class specified,

the combination of a pivotally supported treadle lever; a support for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein said supportconstituting one mem ber of a die; a reciprocable plunger actuated by the lever to engage With the head and maintain the button blank on the support; cutter mechanism to sever t-he'pin at a predetermined point; mechanism to bend thepin; means to return said pin bending mechanism to initial position after the pin has been bent; a slidably supported die member to form the bent pin into an eyelet; means to connect and actuate said die member from the treadle lever, comprising a link slidably engaging in an opening in the treadle lever, a toggle connected to the link one member of said toggle being connected to the die, and the other member of the toggle connected to an adjustable stationary block; and means to adjust said block to vary the movement of the die to permit of the forming of different sized eyelets; all of said mechanism being adapted to be actuated by the treadle in sequence.

24. In a machine of the class specified the combination of a pivotally supported treadle lever; of asupport for a button blank and a headed pin inserted in an opening therein; a reciprocable plunger actuated V by the. lever t6 engage ith the pin head and maintain the button blank on the supc port; cutter mechanism to sever the pln at a predetermined point; mechanism to bend the pin; means to return the pinbending mechanism to initial position after the pin has been bent; mechanism "to form the bent pin into an eyelet; and mechanism to eject the finished button from its support, comprising a pivotally' supported arm; a spring to maintain said arm' in position away from the button, and a cam arm con nected to the treadle lever to engage with said arm and force it against the button.

25. In a machine of the class specified,'

the combination of a support for a button blank with a headed pin inserted in an opening therein; means to engage with the head 7 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). C. i 

